LONDON

Remains identified as those of missing 17-year-old girl

The human remains found on the British royal estate of Sandringham are those of a missing 17-year-old girl, police said Sunday.

Forensic evidence identified the body as that of Alisa Dmitrijeva, a Latvian teenager who had been reported missing in August from her home in Wisbech, about 20 miles from Sandringham.

The girl’s remains were discovered New Year’s Day by someone walking a dog in a wooded part of Sandringham, where Queen Elizabeth II and the royal family traditionally spend the Christmas holidays. Part of the vast estate is open to the public; the body was found about three miles from the royal residence.

Police said an initial attempt to build a DNA profile from the bone and muscle fragments failed. But a further test on a femur and details from one of the palms allowed detectives finally to identify the body as that of Dmitrijeva.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan

Former Pakistani president says he plans to return

Former President Pervez Musharraf said Sunday that he planned to return to Pakistan in late January to prepare to campaign for elections, but authorities said he’d be arrested as soon as he arrived at the airport.

Musharraf made the announcement in the Persian Gulf emirate of Dubai. He said he would arrive between Jan. 27 and Jan. 30.

“I ran Pakistan successfully for 10 years and steered it toward prosperity,” Pakistani media quoted Musharraf as saying.

Musharraf is wanted in Pakistan on charges stemming from allegations that he did not provide enough security to prevent the 2007 assassination of ex-Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

BEIRUT

Arab League calls upon Syria to immediately halt violence

The Arab League demanded Sunday that the Syrian government immediately stop all violence and allow in more monitors, as activists reported at least 10 more civilians were killed by regime forces.

Fierce clashes in the south between government troops and military defectors left 11 soldiers dead, activists said. The monitors are supposed to be ensuring Syrian compliance with a plan to end the government’s crackdown on dissent. The Arab League plan calls on Syria to remove heavy weaponry, such as tanks, from all cities, free all political prisoners and allow in human rights organizations and foreign journalists. Syria agreed to the plan Dec. 19.

— From news service reports

 

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